Live summary of Japan nuclear facilities so far

By IBTimes Staff Reporter | April 2, 2011 3:50 AM EDT

"Due to the Tohoku-Taiheiyou-Oki Earthquake which occurred on March 11th 2011, TEPCO's facilities including our nuclear power stations have been severely damaged," the Tokyo Electric Power Company said in a statement detailing the situation of the nuclear facilities. The following is the summary:

Smoke is seen coming from the area of the No. 3 reactor of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in northeastern Japan in this handout photo

Enlarge Close
(Photo: Reuters)
Smoke is seen coming from the area of the No. 3 reactor of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in northeastern Japan in this handout photo

Related Articles
Japan Prime Minister visits J-village nuclear zone (PHOTOS)
"Jumpers" offered big money to brave Japan's nuclear plant
Jobs, inflation bigger India worries than corruption - Mobius



Subscribe to the Intelligent Investor


Subscribe to The Economic Monitor to get the day's most relevant news, data and anlaysis .
Sample

Unit 1

*The explosive sound and white smoke was confirmed near Unit 1 when the big quake occurred at 3:36pm, March 12th.

*We started injection of sea water at 8:20 pm, March 12th, and then boric acid which absorbs neutron into the reactor afterwards.

*At approximately 2:30 am, March 23rd, we started the injection of sea water into the reactor from feed water system. After that, the injection of freshwater was started from 3:37 pm on March 25th (switched from the seawater injection). At 8:32 am, Mar 29th, transfer from the fire fighting pump to a temporary motor driven pump was made.

-At approximately 10:50 am on March 24th, white smoke was confirmed arising from the top of the reactor building.

Must Read
April Fools' Day Tech Roundup
Haley ReinhartAre "American Idol" contestants Casey Abrams and Haley Reinhart dating?
Sponsorship Link
How to make money from gold investment

-At approximately 11:30 am, March 24th, lights in the main control room were restored.

-At approximately 5:00 pm, March 24th, draining water from underground floor of turbine buildings into a condenser was started and it was paused at approximately 7:30 am, March 29th because we confirmed that the water level reached almost full capacity of a condenser. In order to move the water in the condenser into condensate reservoirs, water transfer from the condensate reservoirs to suppression pool's water surge-tanks has been conducted since around 0:00 pm, March 31st.

-From 1:03 pm, March 31st, the water spray by the concrete pumping vehicle was started, and finished at 4:04 pm.

Unit 2

-At 1:25 pm, March 14th, since the Reactor Core Isolation Cooling System has failed, it was determined that a specific incident stipulated in Clause 1, Article 15 of Act on Special Measures Concerning Nuclear

Emergency Preparedness occurred (failure of reactor cooling function). At 5:17 pm, March 14th, while the water level in the reactor reached the top of the fuel rod, we have restarted the water injection with the valve operation.

-At approximately 6:14 am, March 15th, the abnormal sound was confirmed near the suppression chamber and the pressure inside the chamber decreased afterwards. It was determined that there is a possibility that something happened in the suppression chamber. While sea water injection to the reactor continued, TEPCO employees and workers from other companies not in charge of injection work started tentative evacuation to a safe location. Sea water injection to the reactor continued.

-On March 18th, power was delivered up to substation for backup power through offsite transmission line. We completed laying cable further to unit receiving facility in the building, and at 3:46 pm, March 20th the load-side power panel of the receiving facility started to be energized.

-From 3:05 pm to 5:20 pm on March 20th, about 40 tons of seawater was injected into Unit 2 by TEPCO employees.

-At approximately 6:20 pm on March 21st, white smoke was confirmed arising from the top of the reactor building. As of 7:11 am on March 22nd, smoke decreased to the level where we could hardly confirm.

-From around 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm on March 22nd, approximately 18 tons of sea water was injected into the spent fuel pool by TEPCO employees.

-From 10:10 am on March 26th, freshwater (with boric acid) injection was initiated. (switched from the seawater injection) At 6:31pm, March 27th, transfer from the fire fighting pump to a temporary motor driven pump was made.

-From 10:30 am on March 25th, seawater injection through Fuel Pool Cooling and Filtering System was initiated. The work was finished at 12:19 pm, March 25th. From 4:30 pm, March 29th, freshwater injection through Fuel Pool Cooling and Filtering System was initiated. (We switched from seawater to freshwater). The work was finished at 6:25 pm on March 29th. At 9:25 am, March 30th, we started fresh water injection by a temporary motor driven pump, but we switched the pump to the fire fighting pump due to the pump trouble. At 1:10 pm, March 30th, freshwater injection was suspended, because we found the crack on a part of the hose. At 7:05 pm, March 30th, freshwater injection was resumed and finished at 11:50 pm, March 31.

-At approximately 4:46 pm, March 26th, lights in the main control room were restored.

-At approximately 4:45 pm, March 29th, the water in condensate reservoirs was being transferred to suppression pool water surge-tanks to prepare for water transfer from a condenser to condensate reservoirs in order to drain water on the underground floor of the turbine building into a condenser. At 11:50 am, April 1st, transfer was completed.

-At 14:56 pm, April 1st, water injection into spent fuel pool in Unit 2 by temporary motor driven pump was initiated. At 5:05 pm on April 1st, the water injection was finished.

Unit 3

-At 6:50 am, March 14th, while water injection to the reactor was under operation (injection of boric acid was done on Mar 13th), the pressure in the reactor containment vessel increased to 530 kPa. As a result, at 7:44 am, it was determined that a specific incident stipulated in the Article 15, the Clause 1 of Act on Special Measures Concerning Nuclear Emergency Preparedness occurred (abnormal increase of the pressure of reactor containment vessel). Afterwards, the pressure gradually decreased (as of 9:05 am, 490 kPa).

-At approximately 11:01 am, March 14th, an explosion followed by white smoke occurred near Unit 3. 4 TEPCO employees and 3 workers from other companies (all of them were conscious) sustained injuries and were taken to the hospital by ambulances.

-As the temperature of water in the spent fuel pool rose, spraying water by helicopters with the support of the Self Defense Force was considered. However the operation on March 16th was canceled.

-At 6:15 am, March 17th, the pressure of the Suppression Chamber temporarily increased, but currently it is stable within a certain range. On March 20th, we were preparing to implement measures to reduce the pressure of the reactor containment vessel (partial discharge of air containing radioactive material to outside) in order to fully secure safety. However, at present, it is not a situation to immediately implement measures and discharge air containing radioactive material to outside. We will continue to monitor the status of the pressure of the reactor containment vessel.

-In order to cool spent fuel pool, water was sprayed by helicopters on March 17th with the cooperation of Self-Defense Forces.

-At approximately past 7:00 pm, March 17th, Self-Defense Forces and the police started spraying water by water cannon trucks upon our request for the cooperation. At 8:09 pm, March 17th, they finished the operation.

-At 2:00 pm, March 18th, spraying water by fire engines was started with the cooperation of Self-Defense Forces and the United States Armed Forces. At 2:45 pm, March 18th, the operation was finished.

-At approximately 12:30 am, March 19th, spraying water was started with the cooperation of Fire Rescue Task Forces of Tokyo Fire Department. At approximately 1:10 am, March 19th, the operation was finished. They resumed spraying water at 2:10 pm and finished at approximately 3:40 am, March 20th.

-At approximately 9:30 pm, March 20th, spraying water was started with the cooperation of Fire Rescue Task Forces of Tokyo Fire Department. At approximately 3:58 am, March 21th, they the operation was finished.

-At approximately 3:55 pm, March 21st, light gray smoke was confirmed arising from the southeast side of the 5th floor roof of the Unit 3 building. The situation was reported to the fire department at approximately 4:21 pm. The parameters of reactor pressure vessel, reactor containment vessel, and monitored environmental data remained stable without significant change. However, employees working around Unit 3 evacuated to a safe location. On March 22nd, the color of smoke changed to somewhat white and it is slowly dissipating.

-At approximately 3:10 pm on March 22nd, spraying water to Unit 3 by Tokyo Fire Department's Hyper Rescue and Osaka City Fire Department was conducted, and completed at approximately 4:00 PM on the same day.

-At approximately 10:45 pm on March 22nd, lights in the main control room were restored.

-At 11:00 am on March 23rd, the injection of sea water to spent fuel pool was conducted, and finished approximately at 1:20 pm on the same day.

-At 4:20 pm on March 23rd, light gray smoke was observed belching from Unit 3 building. The situation was reported to the fire department at 4:25 pm on March 23rd. The parameters of the reactor, the reactor containment vessel of Unit 3, and monitored figures around the site's immediate surroundings remained stable without significant change. To be safe, workers in the main control room of Unit 3 and around Unit 3 evacuated to a safe location. At approximately 11:30 pm on March 23rd and 4:50 am on March 24th, TEPCO employees confirmed the smoke has disappeared. Accordingly, workers evacuation was lifted.

-From approximately 5:35 am on March 24th, sea water injection through Fuel Pool Cooling and Filtering System was initiated, and finished at approximately 4:05 pm on the same day.

-From 1:28 pm on March 25th, Hyper Rescue team started water spray. The work finished at 4:00 pm on March 25th.

-From 6:02 pm on March 25th, the injection of freshwater to the reactor was started (switched from the seawater injection). At 8:30 pm on March 28th, the injection of fresh water is switched to temporary electricity pumps from the fire engine pumps.

-At approximately 12:34pm March 27th , the injection of water by the concrete pump truck was started. At approximately 2:36 pm, March 27th, the operation was finished.

-At approximately 2:17pm March 29th, the injection of fresh water by the concrete pump truck was started. (Sea water had been injected so far and transfer from seawater to freshwater was made). The water injection was finished at 6:18 PM, March 29th.

-At approximately 5:40 pm, March 28th, the water in condensate reservoirs was being transferred to suppression pool water surge-tanks to prepare for water transfer from a condenser to condensate reservoirs in order to drain water on the underground floor of the turbine building into a condenser. We finished the transfer work at approximately 8:40 am, March 31st.

-From 4:30 pm, March 31st, the water spray by the concrete pumping vehicle was started, and finished at 7:33 pm.

Unit 4

-At approximately 6:00 am, March 15th, an explosive sound was heard and the damage in the 5th floor roof of Unit 4 reactor building was confirmed. At 9:38 am, the fire near the north-west part of 4th floor of Unit 4 reactor building was confirmed. At approximately 11:00 am, TEPCO employees confirmed that the fire was out.

-At approximately 5:45 am on March 16th, a TEPCO employee discovered a fire at the northwest corner of the Nuclear Reactor Building. TEPCO immediately reported this incident to the fire department and the local government and proceeded with the extinction of fire. At approximately 6:15 am, TEPCO staff confirmed at the site that there are no signs of fire.

-At approximately 8:21 am on March 20th, spraying water by fire engines was started with the cooperation of Self-Defense Forces and they finished the operation at approximately 9:40 am. At approximately 6:45 pm spraying water was started by Self-Defenses' water cannon trucks and finished at approximately 7:45 pm.

-At approximately 6:30 am, March 21st, spraying water by fire engines was started with the cooperation of Self-Defense Forces and the United States Armed Forces. At approximately 8:40 am, March 21, they had finished the operation.

-On March 21st, cabling has been completed from temporary substation to the main power center.

-From approximately 5:20 pm on March 22nd, spraying water from the concrete pumping vehicle was conducted and ended at approximately 8:30 pm on the same day.

-From approximately 10:00 am on March 23rd, spraying water from the concrete pumping vehicle was conducted and ended at approximately 1:00 pm on the same day.

-From approximately 2:35 pm on March 24th, spraying water by the concrete pumping vehicle was conducted and ended at approximately 5:30 pm on the same day.

-From 6:05 am on March 25th, seawater injection through Fuel Pool Cooling and Filtering System was initiated and finished at approximately 10:20 am on the same day.

-From 7:05 pm on March 25th, water spray by the concrete pumping vehicle was started and finished at 10:07 pm on March 25th.

-From 4:55 pm on March 27th, water spray by the concrete pumping vehicle was started and finished at 7:25 pm on March 27th.

-At approximately 11:50 am on March 29th, lights in the main control room were restored.

-From 2:04 pm on March 30th, water spray by the concrete pumping vehicle was started and finished at 6:33 pm on March 30th.

-From 8:28am, April 1st, the water spray by the concrete pumping vehicle was started. At 14:14 pm, the water spray finished.

Unit 5 and 6

-At 5:00 am on March 19th, we started the Residual Heat Removal System Pump (C ) of Unit 5 in order to cool the spent fuel pool. At 10:14 pm, we started the Residual Heat Removal System Pump (B ) of Unit 6 in order to cool the spent fuel pool.

-Unit 5 has been in reactor cold shutdown since 2:30 pm on March 20th. Unit 6 has been in reactor cold shutdown since 7:27 pm on March 20th.

-At Units 5 and 6, in order to prevent hydrogen gas from accumulating within the buildings, we have made three holes on the roof of the reactor building for each unit.

-At approximately 5:24 pm on March 23rd, the temporary Residual Heat Removal System Seawater Pump automatically stopped when its power source was switched. We restarted the pump at around 4:14 pm, March 24th, and resumed cooling of reactor at around 4:35 pm.

*On March 18th, regarding the spent fuel in the common spent fuel pool, we have confirmed that the water level of the pool is secured. At around 10:37 am March 21st, water spraying to common spent fuel pool and finished at 3:30 pm. At around 6:05 pm, fuel pool cooling pump was started to cool the pool.

*common spent fuel pool: a spent fuel pool for common use set in a separate building in a plant site in order to preserve spent fuel which are transferred from the spent fuel pool in each Unit building.

*On March 17th, we patrolled buildings for dry casks and found no signs of abnormal situation for the casks by visual observation. A detailed inspection is under preparation.

*dry cask: a measure to store spent fuel in a dry storage casks in storages. Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station started to utilize the measure from August 1995.

*On March 21st, 23rd to 30th, we detected technetium, cobalt, iodine, cesium, tellurium, barium, lanthanum and molybdenum from the seawater around the discharge canal of the station.

*On March 20th, 21st, 23rd to 30th, we detected iodine, cesium, tellurium and ruthenium in the air collected at the site of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station.

*Plutonium has detected from the sample of soil at the site of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station collected on 21st and 22nd of March, Concentration level of Plutonium detected was same as that of under usual environment and it is thought not to be harmful to human health. We will strengthen environmental monitoring of power station and surrounding environment.

*We detected radioactive materials contained in the puddles found in the turbine building of Unit 1 to 4.

*At approximately 3:30 pm, March 27th, we found water pooling in the vertical shaft of the trench outside of the turbine buildings for Units 1 to 3. The radiation dose at the surface of the water amounted 0.4 mSv/h in Unit 1 and over 1,000 mSv/h in Unit 2. We could not confirm the amount of the radiation dose in Unit 3. We will keep observing the condition of the water in the vertical shaft. On March 29th, we detected niobium, tellurium, ruthenium, silver, tellurium, iodine, cesium, and ruthenium in the water collected at the trench of unit 1.

On March 30th, we took samples from the water in the trench of Unit 2 and 3, and conducted nuclide analysis on them. We are now confirming the results of the analysis.

*Since around 9:20 am, March 31st, the water transfer from the vertical shaft of Unit 1 to the reservoir of the centralized environmental facility was conducted. We finished the task around 11:25 am of the same day.

*We found a puddle of water at the main building of the centralized environmental facility process. We analyzed and detected approximately 1.2 x 101Bq/cm3 of radioactivity in full dose in the Controlled Area and 2.2 x 101Bq/cm3 in full dose in the Non-Controlled Area on March 29.

*A barge of the U.S. Forces with fresh water to be used to cool down reactors etc. was towed by a ship of Maritime Self-Defense Force and at 3:42 pm on March 31st 2011, came alongside the pier. At 15:38, April 1st, we started to replenish the fresh water with filtrate tanks.

*At 11:35 am, April 1st, a worker fell into the sea while stepping into the ship from the pier during the hose laying work of the barge. Other crew immediately rescued the worker. While no injury or contamination was confirmed, whole body counter will be implemented to check the contamination inside the body just in case.

*From 3:00 pm, April 1st, we started spraying inhibitor in order to prevent diffusion of radioactive materials. This attempt was conducted on a trial basis at the mountain side area of the common spent fuel pool in the range of 200m2. The spraying finished at 4:05 pm.

*Monitoring posts (no.1 to no.8) which were installed around the site boundary have been restored. We will continue monitoring the measured value and make announcements on those values accordingly.

*We will continuously endeavor to securing safety, and monitoring of the surrounding environment.

Fukushima Daini Nuclear Power Station:

Units 1 to 4: shutdown due to the earthquake

*The national government has instructed evacuation for those local residents within 10km radius of the periphery.

*In order to achieve cold shutdown, reactor cooling function was restored and cooling of reactors was conducted. As a result, all reactors achieved cold shutdown: Unit 1 at 5:00 pm, March 14th, Unit 2 at 6:00 pm, March 14th, Unit 3 at 0:15 pm, March 12th, Unit 4 at 7:15 am, March 16th.

*At 2:30 pm on March 30th, the power source of the residual heat removal system(B) to cool the reactor of Unit 1 was secured from an emergency power source in addition to an offsite power. This means that all the units secure backup power sources (emergency power sources) for the residual heat removal systems(B).

(Unit 1)

As it is confirmed that the temperature of the Emergency Equipment Cooling Water System *1 has increased, at 3:20 pm, March 15th, we stopped the Residual Heat Removal System (B) for the inspection. Subsequently, failure was detected in the power supply facility associated with the pumps of the Emergency Equipment Cooling Water System. At 4:25 pm, March 15th, after replacing the power facility, the pumps and the Residual Heat Removal System (B) have been reactivated.

*(Unit 4)

As it is confirmed that the pressure at the outlet of the pumps of the Emergency Equipment Cooling Water System*1 has been decreased, at 8:05 pm, March 15th, we stopped the Residual Heat Removal System (B) for the inspection. Subsequently, failure was detected in the power supply facility associated with the pumps of the Emergency Equipment Cooling Water System. At 9:25 pm, March 15th, after replacing the relevant facility, the pumps and the Residual Heat Removal System (B) have been reactivated.

*1:emergency water system in which cooling water (pure water) circulates which exchanged the heat with sea water in order to cool down bearing pumps and/or heat exchangers etc.

Kashiwazaki Kariwa Nuclear Power Station:

Units 1, 5, 6, 7: normal operation

(Units 2 to 4: outage due to regular inspection)

[Thermal Power Station]

-Hirono Thermal Power Station Units 2 and 4: shutdown due to the earthquake

-Hitachinaka Thermal Power Station Unit 1: shutdown due to the earthquake

-Kashima Thermal Power Station Units 2, 3, 5, 6: shutdown due to the earthquake

[Hydro Power Station]

-All the stations have been restored.

(Facilities damaged by the earthquake are now being repaired in a timely manner.) [Transmission System, etc.]

-All substation failed due to the earthquake have been restored. (Facilities damaged by the earthquake are now being repaired in a timely manner.)

[Supply and Demand Status within TEPCO's Service Area to Secure StablePower Supply]

-Considering the critical balance of our power supply capacity and expected power demand forward, in order to avoid unexpected blackout, TEPCO has been implementing rolling blackout (planned blackout alternates from one area to another) since Mar 14th. We will make our utmost to secure the stable power supply as early as possible. For customers who will be subject to rolling blackout, please be prepared for the announced blackout periods. Also for customers who are not subject to blackouts, TEPCO appreciates your continuous cooperation in reducing electricity usage by avoiding using unnecessary lighting and electrical equipment.

[Others]

-Please do NOT touch cut-off electric wires.

-In order to prevent fire, please make sure to switch off the electric appliances such as hair driers when you leave your house.

-For the customer who has in-house power generation, please secure fuel for generator.

Sphere: Related Content